Activities highlights: Wilson High School Student Government (president), Wilson Water Polo Team (four-year varsity athlete and team captain), student representative to the Wilson School Board, high school swim team (four-year varsity athlete), Boy Scouts of America (Eagle Scout), high school Mini-THON (captain), class officer (four-year class president,; Kingfish Water Polo Club, high school track team, humanitarian/marine biology trip to St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica.

Career or life goal highlights: After college, I plan to pursue a law degree. Although I do not want to pursue a career in government, I would like to work for a legal initiative that serves underrepresented groups, such as the Innocence Project or the Nationalities Service Center.

Post-high school plans: I plan to attend college, but I have still not decided which university I will attend. I have been accepted to the University of Notre Dame, and it is one of my top choice schools. I plan to major in political science.

Career or life goal highlights: Become an officer in the Army while continuing to develop and use my foreign language abilities.

Post-high school plans: Attend the United States Military Academy at West Point pursuing a four-year bachelor's degree in international relations.

What others are saying: “She immediately impressed me with her interest in building the most appropriate schedule for her and for her future. When we discussed courses and interests, she immediately shared that it was her dream to work internationally and with languages. I have had other students share this dream, but there was something about Allena and her knowledge and curiosity that demonstrated to me that Allena will be the student to follow through on this dream and make it a reality. This provided Allena the opportunity to attend a German preschool, two years of elementary school in Poland, and have studied four years of Chinese in high school, in addition to taking a college-level Chinese course and Arabic course — whew! She has had many personal experiences traveling and experiencing life in foreign countries as well as learning about unique cultures; these experiences have helped refine her strengths and develop her sense of adventure.” — Dr. Michelle O'Brien, Twin Valley school counselor

Career or life goal highlights: After graduating from college, joining the Peace Corps for several years before working for a nonprofit organization that focuses on indigenous women. Then strive to become a foreign service officer.

Post-high school plans: Attend a four-year college, hopefully George Washington University or American University, but I am still waiting to hear back. If not, I will attend Pennsylvania State University main campus. I will be majoring in international relations with a minor in macroeconomics.

What others are saying: “For Karla, being able to communicate with others in another language allows for her to better understand their perspective. She exemplifies the famous quote by Charlemagne, 'to know another language is to possess a second soul.' ” — Julie Gulling, French teacher

Career or life goal highlights: To found a biotechnology company that finds scientific solutions to real-world problems while engaging with the community.

Post-high school plans: To attend a four-year university to major in biomedical engineering.

What others are saying: “It is more than just Morgan's language skills that make her so special; her personality and zest for life are unique and memorable traits.” — Rebecca Giatras, school district ESL specialist.

Nominees

Zipporah Buehler

Boyertown High School

Parents or guardians: Ester and Christian Buehler.

Career or life goal highlights: My goals for a future career include specializing in occupational therapy. Though it has taken some consideration, I am certain that I will thrive within this position. With my empathetic personality and devoted character, I am hoping to make a difference with every person I am assigned to work with. Along with my personal attributes, I am a devoted student who will work hard to reach my goals. This includes not only the success of my academic achievements, but the influence I have on my co-workers, patients, and the everyday people around me. In addition to my future goal as an occupational therapist, I am hoping to somehow enact my language diversities as an advantage. As I am able to speak fluent Swiss-German, German, English, and am currently taking my fourth year of Spanish; I am, therefore, hoping to travel the world with the abilities as a therapist and as a multilingual.

Post-high school plans: My post-high school plans are to attend Montgomery County Community College for two the first two years. This will not only allow me to save money but will provide me with multitudes of experience and hands-on learning. After I have completed two years at community college, I am hoping to attend Pittsburgh Greensburg to complete my bachelor's for psychology. After the four years at Greensburg, I will transfer to the main campus in Pittsburgh for my Ph.D in occupational therapy. After my seven years of study, my plans are to travel with my skills and change the world around me.

Noah C. Clinard

Boyertown High School

Parents or guardians: Bradley and Marla Clinard

Career or life goal highlights: To become a Spanish teacher/professor.

Post-high school plans: Kutztown University for Spanish education K-12.

Alex M. Coldren

Gov. Mifflin High School

Parents or guardians: Dennis Coldren and Laurie Armstrong

Career or life goal highlights: I plan to fly jets as a commercial airline pilot.

Post-high school plans: I will earn a bachelor's degree in aviation science with a flight school.

Jesus Dominguez Castaneda

Muhlenberg High School

Parents or guardians: Jesus Dominguez Castaneda

Career or life goal highlights: Graduate college and eventually get at least a master's degree. After that, I hope to go to law school to become a lawyer. Outside of work, I want to get married and have a family. I also want to give back to my parents so they can enjoy life without the worry of working anymore, since after all, they have sacrificed everything for me.

Post-high school plans: Attend a top-notch university and double major in mathematical economics and Hispanic studies.

Hannah N. Frymoyer

Exeter High School

Parents or guardians: Ann Frymoyer

Career or life goal highlights: I really want to be a Spanish teacher after college.

Post-high school plans: I am going to attend Millersville University to study language and culture studies-Spanish education (grades K-12).

Ryan K. Givens

Twin Valley High School

Parents or guardians: Kris and Karen Givens.

Career or life goal highlights: Airline pilot.

Post-high school plans: I would like to attend a four-year college and major in international affairs or aviation

James C. Hornickle

Berks Catholic High School

Parents or guardians: David and Maria Hornickle

Career or life goal highlights: My life goal is to become a biochemical researcher so I may help others through scientific advances in medicine.

Post-high school plans: After high school, I plan to attend college to obtain a bachelor's degree in biochemistry, after which I plan to attend graduate school to obtain a master's degree and eventually a Ph.D in biochemistry.

Cassidy E. Kauffman

Oley Valley High School

Parents or guardians: Jessica and David Kauffman

Career or life goal highlights: My career goal is to become an accountant. My life goal is to travel the world and have a family.

Post-high school plans: I plan to attend a local college and major in accounting.

Mya E. Keim

Kutztown High School

Parents or guardians: Dana and Krista Keim

Career or life goal highlights: Undecided.

Post-high school plans: Will be attending Susquehanna University as an undecided major, but with a Spanish minor.

Lyndsay R. Killian

Wyomissing High School

Parents or guardians: Beth Killian

Career or life goal highlights: My career goal is to someday work in the FBI as a criminal profiler. It is my dream to be able to assist in bringing criminals to justice.

Post-high school plans: After high school I am set to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania, with a dual major of criminology and psychology.

Megan A. Makovsky

Fleetwood High School

Parents or guardians: Stephanie Stump and Michael Makovsky

Career or life goal highlights: I would like to become a pharmacist, fluently speak Spanish and start a family. I want to improve the world by being an active worker in the medical field and help as many people as possible.

Post-high school plans: To attend Wilkes University for six years to become a pharmacist and obtain a minor or concentration in Spanish.

Natalie V. Maston

Brandywine Heights High School

Parents or guardians: Michael and Leslie Maston

Career or life goal highlights: My career goals involve becoming a forensic pathologist and being able to travel the world.

Post-high school plans: After high school, I plan on attending Arcadia University to obtain a bachelor´s degree in forensic chemistry and forensic biology. I will then transfer into medical school to receive my doctorate.

Jason Metz

Exeter High School

Parents or guardians: Greg and AnnMarie Metz

Career or life goal highlights: I intend to go to law school and become a lawyer.

Post-high school plans: After high school I will be attending Muhlenberg College. I plan to major in political science and then attend law school. I will also play lacrosse on the Muhlenberg College lacrosse team.

Gabriela S. Morales

Daniel Boone High School

Parents or guardians: Evelyn and Carlos Morales

Career or life goal highlights: Have a career in psychology, have a family, and be fluent in at least four languages.

Post-high school plans: Attend Temple University and major in psychology.

Oluwafolajinmi O. Olugbodi

King's Academy

Parents or guardians: Dr. Akintomi Olugbodi and Dr. Tomi-Olugbodi

Career or life goal highlights: I would like to start my own engineering and software firm, then a family. I hope to bring joy to people through technology, bettering their lives, and making a more productive environment for people so they can in turn create something that helps and inspires others to do the same, beginning a perpetual cycle of productivity, efficiency and creativity. I also hope to learn new languages such as Japanese, Chinese and Spanish, not only to help myself when I do own my company, but to be a well-developed individual that is able to visit and immerse himself into different cultures and their traditions.

Post-high school plans: I am going to be attending Lehigh University studying software engineering, in which I plan to study abroad and intern in technology companies. I then hope to get my Ph.D in software engineering.

Logan A. Oxenreider

Tulpehocken High School

Parents or guardians: Todd and Sandy Oxenreider

Career or life goal highlights: Zoologist.

Post-high school plans: Kutztown University biology, minor in German.

Kahlee A. Perera

Schuylkill Valley High School

Parents or guardians: Steven and Kimberly Perera

Career or life goal highlights: I hope to become a musical composer and express my personal stories through my songs.

Post-high school plans: I plan to attend a four-year college and major in music composition.

Anarielys Santana

Reading High School

Parents or guardians: Santa Laureano

Career or life goal highlights: My career goal ultimately would be to own my own business, and to be apply my knowledge in business and foreign languages to whatever I work in. But truthfully my all-time life goal is to simply be happy.

Post-high school plans: After graduating high school I intend to go to college and further my education by majoring in business administration and minoring in French. I also want to volunteer more at local shelters and organizations.

Danielle C. Siteman

Berks Catholic High School

Parents or guardians: Thomas and Elizabeth Siteman

Career or life goal highlights: My career goal is to become a pediatric surgeon.

Post-high school plans: After high school, I plan to attend Muhlenberg College where I will major in biology. Following graduation from Muhlenberg, I plan to attend medical school, where I will study to become a pediatric surgeon.

Marley D. Turbett

Brandywine Heights High School

Parents or guardians: Todd and Cheryl Turbett

Career or life goal highlights: I want to pursue finance because I would like to one day help out the average person devise their money to help them to be in a stable financial situation. Too often in today's society, finance is focused on the wealthy and not the average person who needs instructions and tools to manage their resources and income wisely.

Bryn K. Werley

Conrad Weiser High School

Parents or guardians: Troy and Karen Werley

Career or life goal highlights: I aspire to become a research scientist concentrating in food chemistry. I believe that food is something that is shared between our lives, and I want to be able to find scientific answers to the ever-increasing questions we have about this part of our culture and day-to-day affairs.

Post-high school plans: After graduating from Conrad Weiser, I plan to attend a four-year university to double major in chemistry and music performance. I plan to study chemistry because it allows me to use my analytical mind to discover new things about the world and solve important problems. I plan to further my studies in music because performing allows me to bring happiness to others as well as myself.

Lily A. Whitmoyer

Schuylkill Valley High School

Parents or guardians: Jeffrey and Cydney Whitmoyer

Career or life goal highlights: To capture honest and raw emotions in photographs that will make an impact.

Post-high school plans: Attend Penn State University Park to study photojournalism.

Madison K. Wolf

Kutztown High School

Parents or guardians: Scott and Chanthy Wolf

Career or life goal highlights: Earn a Ph.D and pursue a career as a scientific researcher or professor, ideally studying neurodegenerative diseases.

Post-high school plans: Attend a four-year college or university and major in neuroscience.

Alexander J. Worrall

Daniel Boone High School

Parents or guardians: Cynthia and Alfred Worrall

Career or life goal highlights: While I'm still undecided what I want to do career-wise, my only goal is for it to be completely fulfilling. I want to travel the world and see what lies beyond Berks County. One day, many years from now, I hope to settle down and start a family, complete with two dogs and a cat. Regardless of what my life ends up being, I only want it to be fulfilling and everything I hope it will.

Post-high school plans: I plan to attend a four-year university to obtain a double major in an undecided humanities subject and Spanish. Eventually, I would like to go to graduate school, either law school or to get my doctorate in Romance languages.